TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iran plans to boost the export of its food industry products this year as part of efforts to develop non-oil exports.

Mehdi Sadeghi Niaraki, the director general of the Industry, Mines and Trade Ministry�s Department of Food, Medicine and Health Industries, said the country�s food industries aim to export over $3 billion worth of products by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (began on March 21, 2015).

He noted that last year, the Islamic Republic�s foodstuff exports weighed 1.4 million tons and were valued at $2.3 billion, showing a 16 percent growth in weight and 10 percent rise in value compared to the previous year.

According to the official, Iran�s major food industry exports last year were dairy products and ice cream ($642 million), confectionery and chocolate products ($543 million) and Saffron ($226 million).

Iran has stepped up efforts in recent years to enhance its non-oil exports and reduce dependency on its oil revenues.

Last year, the country�s exports of commodities and natural-gas condensate reached $50 billion, showing a 19 percent increase.

There was also a boom in Iran�s service exports in diverse sectors, including tourism, engineering, and transit.

By Tasnim News Agency